Disaster and Emergency News and Resources for Housing Counselors

Housing Counseling Disaster Resources

HUD Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions on Disaster Recovery
   
• Granting Immediate Foreclosure Relief
   
• Making Insurance Available for Both Mortgages and Home Rehabilitation: 203(k) Rehab Mortgage Insurance
   
• Post-Disaster Healthy Housing Resources page
  • Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup after Disasters (English | Spanish)
  • Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls (English | Spanish)
     
• Section 203(h) Making Mortgage Insurance Available for Disaster Victims

Other Organizations' Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
   
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
  • Preparing, Recovering, and Rebuilding after Disasters and Emergencies (English | Spanish)
  • What to know if you are facing foreclosure after a natural disaster (English | Spanish)
  • Your reverse mortgage after a natural disaster (English | Spanish)
     
• Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): Mortgage Help for Homeowners Affected by Hurricanes
   
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
  • Emergencies and Disasters: Save for the Unexpected - This webinar shares strategies on how to save for unexpected events. It also provides financial tips, tools, and resources for individuals, communities, and community organizations.
     
  • Publication One (Pub 1) - Individuals and organizations are invited to read FEMA’s handbook to better understand FEMA’s mission and role in order to work together to carry out an effective system of emergency management.
     
  • FEMA Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFAK) - The nonprofit organization HOPE Coalition America, in partnership with FEMA, created the EFAK to help individuals and families collect and organize critical financial, medical, and household contact information.
     
  • Ready.gov/pandemic - Ensure your agency’s staff and clients learn the measures they can take before and during a pandemic to be prepared and limit the spread of germs.
     
• Housing Assistance Council (HAC): Rural Voices - HAC’s quarterly magazine is a national publication with information that local groups need. Each issue of Rural Voices focuses on a topic important to rural communities, with articles by local rural housing professionals from around the country.
   
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA): Disaster Recovery: A Resource for Homeowners
   
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Keeping Safe During Disaster Cleanup and Recovery
   
• NeighborWorks:
  • Recovery from Natural Disasters
  • Navigating the Road to Recovery
     
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Rural Development Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Trainings

For upcoming housing counseling trainings, check the Housing Counseling Training Digest, updated weekly.

Past

• Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program Basics Webinar
   
• Coping with Disaster PTSD 2018 Webinar
   
• Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit Overview and Demonstration Webinar
   
• Flood Insurance with FEMA Webinar

For a complete list of Housing Counseling Disaster Recovery Webinars, visit Housing Counseling Webinar Archive: Select Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Section.

Recent FEMA Declarations

Read the 2019 and 2020 disaster declarations made by FEMA where individual assistance is offered:

Disaster	Incident Period	Declaration Date
South Carolina Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (DR-4542)	April 12-13, 2020	May 1, 2020
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4541)	April 12-13, 2020	April 24, 2020
Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4536)	April 12, 2020	April 16, 2020
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4476)	March 3, 2020	March 5, 2020
South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4469)	September 9-26, 2019	November 18, 2019
Texas Tropical Storm Imelda (DR-4466)	September 17-23, 2019	October 4, 2019
Texas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4454)	June 24-25, 2019	July 17, 2019
Ohio Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide (DR-4447)	May 27-29, 2019	June 18, 2019
Arkansas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4441)	May 21 - June 14, 2019	June 8, 2019
South Dakota Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (DR-4440)	March 13 - April 26, 2019	June 7, 2019
Oklahoma Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4438)	May 7 - June 9, 2019	June 1, 2019

For a complete list of FEMA Declarations, visit the FEMA webpage.

2018 Major Disasters

Hawaii Volcanic Eruption and Earthquakes (DR-4366) and Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4365)

• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver Issued for Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Area on the Big Island of Hawaii
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Hawaii Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4365)
  • Hawaii Kilauea Volcanic Eruption And Earthquakes (DR-4366)

Hurricane Florence

• FEMA Florence Resource Page
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by Hurricane Florence
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Florence Approaches
• FEMA Declarations:
  • North Carolina Hurricane Florence (DR-4393)
  • North Carolina Hurricane Florence (EM-3401)
  • South Carolina Hurricane Florence (EM-3400)

2017 Major Disasters

California Fires

• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by the California Wildfires
• Freddie Mac Mortgage Relief Amid California Wildfires
• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver for Four Additional Counties in Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas in California
• FEMA Declarations:
  • California Wildfires (DR-4344)
  • California Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows (DR-4353)

Hurricane Harvey

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas Disaster Declaration
  • Housing industry gears up to face Hurricane Harvey
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
• FEMA Harvey Resource Page
• SBA Disaster Loans and Details for People and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Harvey
• Hurricane Harvey and General Disaster Resources from the Counselor’s Corner
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Gulf Coast Area Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Harvey Approaches Texas
• IRS Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Texas Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
  • Louisiana Tropical Storm Harvey (EM-3382)

Hurricane Irma

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Florida Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Georgia Disaster Declaration
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Georgia Storm Victims
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Puerto Rico Storm Victims
• SBA Disaster Loans and Details for People and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Irma
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Gulf Coast Area Impacted by Hurricane Irma
• FEMA Irma Resource Page
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Irma Approaches Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. Mainland
• IRS Help for Victims of Hurricane Irma
• FHA Issues Waiver for Property Inspections in Irma-Affected Areas
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Puerto Rico Hurricane Irma (DR-4336)
  • Florida Hurricane Irma (DR-4337)
  • Seminole Tribe of Florida Hurricane Irma - Seminole Tribe Of Florida (DR-4341)

Hurricane Maria

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Puerto Rico Storm Victims
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for U.S. Virgin Islands Storm Victims
• FEMA Maria Resource Page
• Freddie Mac Mortgage Assistance for Hurricane Maria
• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver for All Municipalities in Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas in Puerto Rico Impacted by Hurricane Maria
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Virgin Islands Hurricane Maria (DR-4340)
  • Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria (EM-3391)

Hurricane Nate

• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Impacted by Hurricane Nate
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Florida Hurricane Nate (EM-3395)
  • Alabama Hurricane Nate (EM-3394)
  • Mississippi Hurricane Nate (EM-3393)